On Being Taught by Students

Last January 2007, the UP High School celebrated "Know Your School Day 2007". This Celebration is a yearly affair. On this celebration, instead of teachers, our fellow students will be granted authority to teach us, students. On the flag ceremony of the first day of KYSD, teachers introduced to us who will be taking over to become teachers. This is my first experience of being taught by my fellow students for in my elementary years, we don't have an event like this in our school. When my classmates stood in front to teach us topics that have not been discussed, most of my classmates really did not listen to them. They only listen to them when a teacher is standing by our corridor. For instance, my classmate, Dan, is teaching Science I-A, then my classmates are not listening. One classmate whispers to another classmate, "Bai, naa si madam sa gawas" that's the time they will listen to our classmates.

I wanted, also, to teach but I was discouraged because our adviser in that subject was not available for consultation. I know it is difficult to be a teacher especially when one doesn't know how to listen. So what I did was listening to my classmates teaching and ignore them who call me. In a certain subject, a student in the other section taught us because none of my classmates applied for that subject. Some of my classmates did not listen. Instead of listening, they just loiter around, go to another seat to be near to their friends, and talk loudly. But I'll tell you the truth, I also transfer to another seat but when I talk, I see to it that the teacher is not interrupted by the way I talk. In another subject, our class chairperson taught us with his partner, who is also a class officer. Again, some classmates of mine did not listen. Surprisingly, they gave us a short quiz on the topic. But thank God, I was able to answer majority of the questions. I think at that time when we were having the quiz, I can't pass this this test. But what actually happened? The opposite. I was able to answer most of the questions.

After that week when we celebrated KYSD, it was again Monday. And every Monday, the bell will ring at 7:20 in the morning because we will have the flag ceremony every Monday. Before singing our school hymn, our real teachers (the faculty) gave recognition to the students who participated in the KYSD. Our fellow students who participated received certificates of recognition signed by the principal. I really saw the happiness on their faces. After the "Know Your School Day" week, all classes went back to normal. The real teachers taught us again and before starting the period they congratulated the students who took place of their position. The teachers asked my classmates how it feels to be a teacher. My classmates (who participated in the KYSD) answered that it was really hard because some students just talk and don't listen.

My experience was very good because I was able to know how it feels to be a teacher by asking my classmates who participated. Your experience may be different from mine but it is good to know how our teachers feel when we don't listen to them. I hope that talkative students who have read about my experience can change the way they behave.